Located in my favorite quarter Alvalade, near everything, but far enough from the touristy and crowded areas of the downtown, Frutalmeidas is still one of my spots for a quick snack, a fresh fruit juice or just take-away. There’s another place located at Saldanha quarter, but this is the one I’ve known since my childhood.

There’s light meals for lunch, salads, excellent fruit juices, the famous patties, soups and the best strawberry cream cake you’ll find in Lisbon. It’s served in a “monster slice” size!

I’ve been coming here for as long as I can remember. When I was younger I always asked my grandma to buy some patties for lunch. The waiters have known me since childhood, and if there’s a place in town that I really feel at home, this is it! There’s always someone I’d recognize from school, from the quarter, from my neighborhood…

Don’t expect modern design or trendy decoration, the place looks the same as it did when I was younger. There’s old people chatting, reading the news and enjoying life. Kids waiting for their parents after school, young couples. It’s cosy and full of life from dusk till dawn.

Once, after living in Berlin for 3 months, this was the first stop for a brunch. We were a group of 3 and we went there straight from the Airport. We ordered some “pastéis de massa tenra”, filled with minced meat (that are the best in Lisbon), some fresh fruit juices… and we were back home.